Reducible flip top box

ABSTRACT

A box is provided with a flip top which is movable to closing position after the movement of a wall flap to a position within the box interior. Such movement of the wall flap provides outward extending locking tabs which cooperate with closure tabs forming part of the flip top, so that the flip top is then locked into position. In one form of the invention a tear strip is provided in the aforesaid wall flap, the tear strip extending between side wall portions and across the wall flap. When the tear strip is removed, the wall flap may be folded to the position normal to the wall panels. In both forms of the invention the subsequent folding of the flip top to locking position results in a box which is reduced in size.

United States Patent Collura et 'al.

[151 3,680,766 1 Aug. 1,1972

[54] REDUCIBLE FLIP TOP BOX [72] Inventors: Peter C. Collura, Stamford,Conn.;

William P. Pintsalt, Ossining, NY.

[73] Assignee: Container Corporation of America,

Chicago, Ill.

[22] Filed: July 17,1970

21 Appl. No.: 55,895

[52] US. Cl. ..229/5l TC, 229/44 CB, 229/45, 229/51 TS [51] Int. Cl...B65d 37/00 [58] Field of Search ..229/5l C, 45, Si TS, 51 TC, 229/51SC, 44 CB [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,369,386 2/1945Williamson et al ..229/44 UX 2,839,236 6/1958 Dunning .......229/452,139,021 12/1938 Johnson ..229/$l TS 2,355,665 8/1944 Mabee ..229/51 RCPrimary Examiner-George E. Lowrance Assistant Examiner-Stephen P. GarbeAnomey-Carpenter, Ostis & Lindberg [5 7] ABSTRACT A box is provided witha flip top which is movable to closing position after the movement of awall flap to a position within the box interior. Such movement of thewall flap provides outward extending locking tabs which cooperate withclosure tabs forming part of the flip top, so that the flip top is thenlocked into position. In one form of the invention a tear strip isprovided in the aforesaid wall flap, the tear strip extending betweenside wall portions and across the wall flap. When the tear strip isremoved, the wall flap may be folded to the position normal to the wallpanels. In both fonns of the invention the subsequent folding of theflip top to locking position results in a box which is reduced in size.

2 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTED 8 1 SHEET 1 OF 2 and The prior artis best exemplified in the following patents:

Johnson 2. l 39.02l Dunning 2.839.236 Cartonneire et al. (FL) l,l83.269

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Structure according to the present inventionfinds particular use in the packaging of articles such as small cigarsknown in the trade as cigarillos, and affords a structure whereby thesize of the carton may be reduced after the removal of one or morearticles therefrom.

THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an isometric view showing a reducible flip topbox according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a cut and scored blank from which the box ofFIG. I may be constructed;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary isometric view showing a tear. stripremoved from the box of FIG. I;

FIG. 4 shows a wall flap portion thereof folded to a position normal toa front wall panel, and the folding of the top closure of the box to alocked position;

FIG. 5 is an isometric view showing the box reduced in size with the topclosure thereof locked in position;

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a cut and scored blank for D i forming the boxseen in FIG. 6;

rear main panels 11 and opposed side panels 12, all

being interconnected along fold lines 13. A glue flap 14 is foldablewith respect to one of the main panels 11 along fold line 16, and isadapted to be joined at the remote side panel I2 to define a box sleeveas seen in FIG. 2.

Theblank 10A includes a plurality of lower closure flaps and tabs 17,these being foldably connected to the main and side panels 11 and 12along a common fold line 18. These are joined together to provide alower closure for the box seen in FIG. 1.

Closure elements. for the opposite end of the box include a side closureflap 19 extending from each of the side panels 12, and closure flaps 22and 23 extending from the main panels 11. Side closure flaps l9 andclosure flaps 22 and 23 are ,foldable with respect to the panels 1 l and12 and are interconnected to define a top closure 25 for the box 10.Each of the side panels 12 has a line of weakness 32 spaced from theclosure flaps 19 attached thereto to define side panel elements 24 fortop closure 25. One of the main panels 11 includes a closure flap 26foldable with respect to one of the main panels 11 along a fold line 27.

5 24 on two sides thereof by lines of weakness 30. Fold- The other mainpanel 11 has a locking flap 28 therein I foldable with respect to theother wall panel 1 I about a fold line 29 which is spaced from closureflap 23. The

locking flap 28 is attached to the side panelelements line 29 isinterrupted by cut lines 31 parallel to the interrupted fold line 29"and spaced a slight distance therefrom to define locking tabs 35 in thelocking flap I 28 A tear strip 33 is provided in locking flap 28* and isdefined by a pair of spaced lines of weakness 34, oneof. said lines ofweakness being co-extensive with the fold line 2]. by which the closuretabs 19, 22, and 23 are joined to the main and side panels 11 and 12.

The box 10 is formed as seen in FIG. I and the contents thereof may beremoved therefrorn after removal of the tear strip 33 in a well-knownfashion. After articles are removed from the box the top closure may belocked into a position whereby the overall dimension of the box 10 isreduced in size. The top closure 25 is folded about the fold line 27after the side flaps 24 are separated form the side panels 12 along thelines of weakness 32. Upon folding of the top closure 25 to the positionseen in FIG. 5, the locking tabs 35 extending from the locking panel 28engage with the edges of the It comprises respective front and back mainpanels 41A and 418 which are joined along the bottom edges thereof by abottom closure panel 42,.panels 41A and 418 being foldably connected tobottom closure panel 42 along fold lines 43. Each of the front and rearpanels 41A and 418 has side flaps 44 extending therefrom, these beingfoldably connected to the said main panels 41A and 418 along fold lines46. The side wall flaps .44

connected to the rear main wall 418 have closure flaps 47 hingedlyconnected thereto along fold lines 45.

The aforesaid front and rear main panels 41A and 418, the bottom closurepanel 42 and the side wall flaps 44 are joined together in aconventional fashion to define a box of a conventional kind. It may benoted that the closure flaps 47 are glued to the bottom closure panel 42in forming the box seen in FIG. 6.

Rear wall panel 41B has a closure-panel 48 extending therefrom, it beingfoldably connected to top closure flap 49 at a fold line 51. Side wallflaps 53 are joined to the side wall flap 44 along lines of weakness 55which are eo-extensive with a fold line 50 between rear main wall panel418 and closure panel 48. Each of the side wall flaps 53 is joined to aclosure flap 54 along a fold line 56, and the closure flaps 54 arejoined to the underside of the top closureflap 49 to provide a topclosure seen in FIGS. 6, 8, and 9.

The front wall 41A has a front wall extension 57 therefrom, it beingfoldable with respect to the front wall 41A along an interrupted foldline 58. Extension 57 normally occupies the position seen in FIG. 6,which illustrates the flip top box 40 in its condition when firstshipped in trade. Boxes of this type are generally enclosed in some typeof clear film material and upon contents therefrom. In so doing, topclosure 60 has the rupted fold line 58 and being parallel thereto.

The top closure 60 is then adapted to be rocked about the fold line 50to the position seen in FIG. 9 at which time the locking tabs 65 engagewith the edges of the closure flaps 54 to lock the top closure 60 intoposition as seen in FIG. 9, at which time-the dimensions of the box arereduced.

lclaim:

l. A reducible flip top box formed from a sheet of paperboard or thelike, comprising:

a. interconnected main and side panels defining a sleeve;

b. at least one closure element for closing one end of said sleeve todefine a box;

c. closure elements for the opposite end of said box including:

i. a side closure flap extending from each of said side panels;

ii. a closureflap extending from at least one of said main panels;

iii. said closure flaps being foldable with respect to their respectivepanels and interconnected to define a top closure for said box; g

d. a line of weakness in each of said side panels spaced from theclosure flap attached thereto;

e. a fold line in said one main panel spaced from the a closure flapthereof;

f. A locking flap in the other of said main panels connected to each ofsaid side panels by-a line of weakness: g

i. said locking flap being defined by an interrupted fold line spacedfrom the end of said other main panel, and

ii. having cut portions between interrupted por-- tions of saidinterrupted fold line slightly displaced from said fold line anddefining locking ta v iii. said locking flap being foldable with respectto the plane of said main panel and having the locking tabs thereofengageable with said top closure;

g. said top closure being movable about said fold line in said one mainpanel after separation of said side panels at the lines of weaknesstherein, with the edges of said side closure flaps being in engagementwith the locking tabs of said locking flap.

2. A reducible flip top box according to claim 1 wherein one of saidmain panels has a tear strip therein.

1. A reducible flip top box formed from a sheet of paperboard or thelike, comprising: a. interconnected main and side panels defining asleeve; b. at least one closure element for closing one end of saidsleeve to define a box; c. closure elements for the opposite end of saidbox including: i. a side closure flap extending from each of said sidepanels; ii. a closure flap extending from at least one of said mainpanels; iii. said closure flaps being foldable with respect to theirrespective panels and interconnected to define a top closure for saidbox; d. a line of weakness in each of said side panels spaced from theclosure flap attached thereto; e. a fold line in said one main panelspaced from the closure flap thereof; f. A locking flap in the other ofsaid main panels connected to each of said side panels by a line ofweakness: i. said locking flap being defined by an interrupted fold linespaced from the end of said other main panel, and ii. having cutportions between interrupted portions of said interrupted fold lineslightly displaced from said fold line and defining locking tabs; iii.said locking flap being foldable with respect to the plane of said mainpanel and having the locking tabs thereof engageable with said topclosure; g. said top closure being movable about said fold line in saidone main panel after separation of said side panels at the lines ofweakness therein, with the edges of said side closure flaps being inengagement with the locking tabs of said locking flap.
 2. A reducibleflip top box according to claim 1 wherein one of said main panels has atear strip therein.